Physicians
Cannabis is not new...Navigating it as a medical professional is.
Regardless of your medical opinions about cannabis, patient conversations and behavior put you at risk.
Medical professionals are in a dilemma as there are no clear Standard of Care guidelines for cannabis.
Standard of Care
The Standard of Care doctrine requires that you understand the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) that regulates and controls many of our most critical bodily functions. Under this doctrine the physician is responsible for patient safety, no matter how access to cannabis is achieved.
Regardless of a physician’s stance on cannabis, once they discuss it or are involved in a patient care plan where cannabis is included, they are potentially exposed to cannabis-related claims.
Ironically, liability can also occur by avoiding the conversation.
Patients are challenging you with questions about cannabis...
- Asking how cannabis may help relieve their symptoms; pain, anxiety, depression
- Asking how cannabis affects the medicine they currently take
- Inquiring about the risks if they try cannabis
- And seeking informed, educated answers
Armed with a better understanding of the ECS and its potential impact on your patient’s medical care plan leads to better clinical outcomes. Crucially—Ignorance of the ECS is no defense.
Pro Mal Insurance offers superior coverage coupled with access to accredited education specific to the ECS and to cannabis.
The Endocannabinoid System Affects Most Major Bodily Systems
The role of the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is to maintain the body’s homeostasis by influencing the function of other systems. Its role is crucial as it regulates multiple physiological and cognitive processes. This includes the adjustment of our response to pain, appetite, digestion, sleep, mood, inflammation, and memory.
The ECS is a complex cell-signaling system that relies on cannabinoids and targets cannabinoid receptors—primarily CB1 and CB2 receptors. Cannabis is a well known cannabinoid.
Navigating Cannabis as a Healthcare Professional
For medical professionals, the medical and recreational cannabis landscape represents a new frontier. Doctors who encounter patients using, or inquiring about, medical cannabis often lack detailed knowledge of the drug, and lack affirmative and reliable protection from malpractice claims arising from legal problems associated with the use of a Schedule 1 drug that is not approved for use by the FDA. Such exclusions are commonplace in medical malpractice policies.
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*Premium indication provided by Continental Heritage Insurance Company, NAIC #39551. Premium Indication subject to product availability in your state. The rates, terms and conditions of your policy may differ from those listed herein. Be sure to carefully review your policy.
